Radion and Vortech Future Compatibility

thetedinator

thetedinator

New member
Currently, Vortech pumps and Radion lights can be controlled using an Apex controller.

Is there any intention to change that in the future? For example, when I add two more Radion's to my system, will they be controllable by Apex like the four I already have?
 
LefkoNJ said:
The Apex can support 11 Ecotech Vortechs/Radions so you are fine until you hit that limit.
Click to expand...

Thanks but that is not my question or concern.

EcoTech is not updating their Vectra pumps to be controllable by an Apex and there are rumors that EcoTech is working on a controller to compete with Neptune Systems. Those are business decisions that are not my business or concern. My concern is that my plans include adding more Radions and replacing my Tunzes and that EcoTech will modify their existing product lines so they are no longer compatible with Apex leaving me at a dead end with significant investments in both EcoTech and Neptune Systems hardware.
 
I doubt anyone at Ecotech would answer. My guess is that they will eventually stop working together. Seems like I remember Ecotech updating firmware and Neptune then having to update theirs to work with Ecotech/WXM again. I would have preferred to get a WXM, but went with the Reeflink instead as I just assume its a matter of time, especially now that Neptune is making powerheads and a return pump.
 
Why is it so important that the apex controls ecotech products,
To me it is a waste of time. also if you have a issue with the apex then if will effect all things controlled by it,

More flexibility if some devices are self controlled.
 
unze said:
Why is it so important that the apex controls ecotech products,
To me it is a waste of time. also if you have a issue with the apex then if will effect all things controlled by it,

More flexibility if some devices are self controlled.
Click to expand...

This is not about the pros and cons of how you control and monitor you system. To each is own.

My concern cuts two directions, at both Neptune Systems and EcoTech. At this point I am not contemplating spending thousands more on Neptune Systems products, however I am planning on buying some more EcoTech lights and pumps. I'm concerned that I have a sizable investment in EcoTech and Neptune Systems products and at some point these companies make decisions regarding their products that stove pipes their product lines. If that happens it means that all of the EcoTech or Neptune System users (you and me and everyone else) will have to $#1+ can some expensive stuff in order to add or upgrade equipment *OR* the user will have to live with the resulting limits of the equipment they bought. The money aspect of this in terms of how it could affect a user is not trivial.
 
I have the same concern. It's made me look more at the Neptune WAV over upgrading to MP40QD because I don't want to get stuck with compatibility issues. I was actually going to order a Vectra L1, but went for the much more expensive RD230 because it works with my Apex. I am one lost sale, well technically two because I would have purchased two to meet my needs. My choice was a direct result of the lack of compatibility.
 
Are the vectra pumps NOT APEX compatible?

I'm in the process of restarting my 120 reef, and have had Radion's since the Gen1, (upgraded two of them to G3's), and a pair of MP40QD's.

I've been saving up towards the purchase of an APEX and would like to use a Vectra pump as a return.

The answer to this question is important to me as well.
 
maxxII said:
Are the vectra pumps NOT APEX compatible?

I'm in the process of restarting my 120 reef, and have had Radion's since the Gen1, (upgraded two of them to G3's), and a pair of MP40QD's.

I've been saving up towards the purchase of an APEX and would like to use a Vectra pump as a return.

The answer to this question is important to me as well.
Click to expand...

The Vectra pumps are not compatible.
 
That sucks....
Chalk up another lost sale unless a work around becomes available.
And like Breadman03, I buy two pumps, one for the system, the other to be used as a back up and swapped out when doing maintenance on the first pump.
 
It'd be ideal to somehow have the reeflink and the wxm work at the same time on all devices. I have both wxm and reeflink right now.
 
Fwiw I have a a vectra L1 and control it with the regular controller Ecotech sells with it. It is plugged into my Apex Jr. I am able to power the vectra pump off if I'd like but cannot tap into all the features it has from my Apex. For that I will get reeflink. My return pump also feeds my skimmer, fuge, and reactors from a manifold. It is not ideal for me to run the vectra in a feed mode because it will impact all those other parts of my filtration. I prefer to shut it off (which I can do from my Apex Jr using Fusion). I have the pump fully cranked and I can barely hear it. The noise is miniscule and there is no heat output. I am very happy and was using an Iwaki 70 prior to this.

I will spend the $100 on a reeflink in a couple weeks.
 
I have Radions and Vortechs and have plans to purchase a Vectra in the near future. I was about to purchase an Apex but am now holding off because I am guessing that Ecotech will soon come out with some kind of controller package that will compliment their Reeflink. Also, I love what the Apex can do now but I feel that they have not really had the need to improve their technology. I am also guessing that this will change soon. Apex should build some water resistance into their products (about the same amount as the Radions) and they should add optional wireless connectivity. I would definitely leave it running on wireless and connect it to a wired connection when I go on vacation as it will be more reliable and I won't be home to see the wire running across my floor.
 
I can't wait till EcoTechs controller is released, so I can bag this Apex up and send it off to its new home. EcoSmartLive is so much more user friendly and will be even more so, compared to Neptunes Fusion or the original interface, when EcoTech releases their controller software/hardware/interface.
 
The APEX is expensive and by many accounts, difficult/annoying to program.
But it is arguably the best aquarium controller on the market.

It can turn things on and off at set times or at set conditions, (Turn chiller off and heater on if temp drops to certain level/turn heater off and chiller on if temp rises to certain level, turn Kalk Reactor on and Calcium Reactor CO2 off if pH drops below set point, turn Kalk reactor off and turn Calcium Reactor CO2 on if pH rises above a set point, turn off return pump at 2am every 30 days, turn peristaltic pump A to pull water from sump at 2 am every 30 days, turn off Peristaltic Pump A at 245 am, and then turn on Peristaltic Pump B from 245 am to 330 am and then turn return pump back on at 330 AM....thus doing an auto water change).

It can turn things completely on and completely off.

It can turn things on by degrees, (50% speed, 10% power level/intensity for lighting etc).
It can track aquarium parameters, (Temp, pH, orp, salinity etc) for up to 30 days.

It can do all of this and much more, rock solid reliably.


Now,
Does Eco-Tech have something similar on the horizon, or will the reef link and Eco-Smart Live allow those same things to happen with Eco-Tech products and non Eco-Tech products such as pumps, heaters, chillers, fans, CO2 solenoids etc?

Because if it does, then Eco-Tech has an aquarium controller.

If not, then they dont.

It's really that simple.
 
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